Powers hopes to return in 2013

RENO - Gary Powers fully intends to coach the Nevada Wolf Pack baseball team beyond this coming season.

"I'm going to be here as long as I can be here," said Powers, whose Wolf Pack will open the 2012 season with three games at New Mexico today through Sunday. "When the season is over, I'll sit down with the people who make that decision and I'll deal with it."

Powers, who signed a one-year contract in June after his three-year deal expired, is more worried about the future of the Wolf Pack baseball program than he is his own coaching future.

"We recruited with the idea of everyone intending to take this program into the Mountain West Conference," said Powers, referring to the Pack's move to the MWC starting in 2013. "We didn't put a Band-Aid on this program and go out there and sign a bunch of junior college players. We recruited with the idea of insuring the future of this program beyond this season."

Powers and his entire staff from 2011 - assistants Buddy Gouldsmith, Chris Pfatenhauer and Pat Flury - all returned this season.

Powers, the longest tenured head coach in the history of University of Nevada athletics, will open his 30th season today with a career record of 880-705-5. Powers has led the Wolf Pack to 16 seasons of 30 or more victories and 19 seasons with a record of .500 or better.

No matter what happens this season, Powers said he is excited about the future of  Wolf Pack baseball. And it's a future he hopes to be a part of.

"This coaching staff and myself will give you everything we have every single day we're here," Powers said. "That I can guarantee. We've had a great recruiting class the last two years. We're prepared to go into a new conference. But, first, the only thing I'm worried about is coaching this team this year."

A one-year contract for Powers is nothing new. He says he coached his first 26 seasons at Nevada with 26 one-year deals.

"I'm used to it," Powers said. "It's nothing new. I still get up every morning happy that I have the opportunity to coach this baseball team. I'm very fortunate to be healthy enough to continue to do it. I still have the same enthusiasm and energy for the job that I always had. My whole focus is to come to work everyday and work as hard as I can."

Powers, though, is well aware that his future will be an issue as this season progresses. His contract runs out in June.

"It's going to be an issue for everyone but me," Powers said. "After last year we (Powers and athletic director Cary Groth) agreed that I'd coach this year and then we'd sit down at the end of the year and talk about it."

Powers' whole motivation, he said, is not about earning another contract. It's about turning around last year's 24-31 record.

"If anyone thinks I'm satisfied about going 24-31 then they don't know anything about me," Powers said.

And, yes, he wants to come back in 2013.

"Of course I want to come back after this year," Powers said. "I have no reason not to. I still love what I do."